Tobias walked softly down the street. He never was one to rush, but he wasn't concentrating on walking, only on the revelation he had received earlier. His hands lightly trembled, whether from the cold or the fear of the truth he didn't know. He saw the workshop up ahead, and quickened his pace out of anticipation. He was so nervous he wasn't even thinking anymore, just had a mindless need to speak to Bryce.
The doors opened smoothly, and he slid in without a sound. All of the other apprentices were still at work, even though it was late at night. Sir didn't force them to do work, they all just enjoyed their craft.
"Tobias! Your back! We need an extra pair of hands for this one!" It was Maso, Tobias best friend. Normally, tobias would have been eager to help, but right now he had to go speak to his adoptive father, Bryce about what he had heard. His parents could still be alive? Could he go meet them? His head started to swim and he forced himsef to calm down. He shuffled to the back office, where Bryce took care of all the financing and important requests. He rattled the knocker and not-so-calmly waited for the answer. His legs wouldn't stop shaking and he had ran his hands through his light brown hair at least a dozen times already.
"Who's there? I'm currently busy so please come back another time" His father's voice was gruff, and it sounded like he had a lot of anxiety.
"It's me, Tobias." Tobias quickly responded, afraid he might miss his chance to talk about his parents. Gord looked uneasy, a carry over of Tobias' emotions. Nobody knew why they shared emotions, but all contracters did. Because Gord was an earth type, he didn't have emotions of his own except under extreme pressure or danger. The door cracked open and there stood his adoptive father, worry lines creasing his forehead.
"So... are you okay?" Tobias could see that his father was worrying about he took it, and that was nice to see.
"Why are you only telling me this now? Did they tell you not to? Why?" He questioned his father almost relentlessly, but his fathere merely held up a hand to give him some time to think.
"In the letter, there was a note telling us to only tell you when you were over seventeen. They said the would be... In the city. It's why we tried to delay it as much as possible." The city was a dangerous place, where people used there contracts in fights everyday and there were even tournaments with prize money for the survivor. But this note told him to find a 'Rubert Inglise' in the city. Finding just one person would be hard in there own town, but someone you didn't know in a massive unnown land?
"But... We don't want you to go. We still don't know why they abandoned you, and... We want you here." This was the first time that Tobias had ever heard Bryce be so emotional. Normally he was a stern man, more of a boss than a father, which seemed natural for Tobias who had grown up working with him.
"You have us, don't you?" His voice was more of a plea and Tobias began to see what he hadn't before. Bryce did love him, he had just been too focused on raising him he had never shown it.
"But... My parents must have left this for a reason... And I want to know who I am." The last part of his statement came out with a feeling of clarity as he realised it was the truth. His entire life he had been the Hertans son, but now he could know who he truly was. What if he found out who he was, but chose to live with his Bryce and Patricia again?
"What if I go, but then come back?" Tobias looked up at Bryce, returning his gaze from the floor to his father. Both their brows bunched, both pleading, one for the truth and one for his son.
"Alright" Eventually, Bryce gave in to his sons demands. He had grown up as an excellent young man, so he should be allowed some freedom. Still, he wouldn't be unaccompanied.
"Bring Maso with you too. He knows about the city, and has a strong contract to boot. He'll be able to keep you safe." Even though it was supposed to be a limitation on Tobias, he and Maso had always been great friends, so them going together was more of a reward than a punishment.
"Sure! When do we leave?" Tobias guessed it would still be a week until they left, but Bryce had other ideas.
"At noon tomorrow. That's when Maso will be his strongest and you've heard about the bandits recently. We're also going into summer so the sooner the better."
"Okay, I'll go tell Maso to start packing, shoud we pack light or should we plan for a long trip?" Tobias had never been on a trip outside of the town, due to his working in the workshop for most of his life.
"Light. Be fast and quick, I don't want you staying any longer than you absolutely have to." Just going to the city meant danger, staying there was not a good idea.
"Last question; did you name me Tobias?" He had been Tobias as long as he could remember
"We did not. It was in the note." So... He was Tobias after all. It made him feel somewhat calmer knowing that he was named by his birth parents, even if he didn't know them.
"I'll see you tomorrow, son." Bryce locked eyes with Tobias and he could see the worry in his boy's face. Venting to Maso would probably help in relieving some of his stress, but he reached out and pulled Tobias into a hug, trying to comfort his son.
"I'll... get going now. See you tomorrow." Tobias turned around and headed towards the dorms for the second time that evening.